USDA eyes whether tainted beef entered food supply

This still image made from video provided by Compassion Over Killing, appears to show workers at a Central California slaughterhouse bungling the slaughter of cows. Federal regulators shut down the slaughterhouse Tuesday, Aug. 21, 2012, after receiving the animal welfare video, and are investigating whether beef from sick cows reached the human food supply. (AP Photo/Compassion Over Killing)
— AP

This still image made from video provided by Compassion Over Killing, appears to show workers at a Central California slaughterhouse bungling the slaughter of cows. Federal regulators shut down the slaughterhouse Tuesday, Aug. 21, 2012, after receiving the animal welfare video, and are investigating whether beef from sick cows reached the human food supply. (AP Photo/Compassion Over Killing)
/ AP

A security guard opens the gate at the Central Valley Meat Co., the California slaughterhouse shut down by federal regulators after they received video showing dairy cows being repeatedly shocked and shot before being slaughtered, on Tuesday, Aug. 21, 2012 in Hanford, Calif. Federal regulators are investigating whether beef from sick cows reached the human food supply. (AP Photo/Gosia Wozniacka)
/ AP

This still image made from video provided by Compassion Over Killing, appears to show workers at a Central California slaughterhouse bungling the slaughter of cows. Federal regulators shut down the slaughterhouse Tuesday, Aug. 21, 2012, after receiving the animal welfare video, and are investigating whether beef from sick cows reached the human food supply. (AP Photo/Compassion Over Killing)— AP

This still image made from video provided by Compassion Over Killing, appears to show workers at a Central California slaughterhouse bungling the slaughter of cows. Federal regulators shut down the slaughterhouse Tuesday, Aug. 21, 2012, after receiving the animal welfare video, and are investigating whether beef from sick cows reached the human food supply. (AP Photo/Compassion Over Killing)
/ AP

The video appears to show workers bungling the slaughter of cows struggling to walk and even stand. Under federal regulations, sick animals cannot be slaughtered for human consumption.

The investigation will determine whether sick cows were slaughtered and whether meat products from the company should be recalled, a spokesman for the USDA Food Safety Inspection Service said.

The agency suspended operations Monday at Central Valley Meat Co. in Hanford after receiving the video Friday from the animal welfare group Compassion Over Killing. The footage shows animals bleeding and thrashing after being repeatedly shot in the head with a pneumatic gun in unsuccessful efforts to render them unconscious for slaughter.

Federal regulations say that to avoid unnecessary suffering during slaughter, animals must be rendered unconscious by a single shot to the head from a pneumatic gun that fires a bolt through the skull to pierce the brain.

The USDA said late Tuesday that it found evidence of inhumane practices on the video, but the footage did not indicate beef from sick cattle got into the food system.

"We have not substantiated a food safety violation at this time. We are aggressively continuing to investigate the allegations," said Al Almanza, administrator of the Food Safety and Inspection Service.

In-N-Out Burger, a fast food chain, severed its ties with the company after learning about the situation. Mark Taylor, chief operating officer, said Tuesday the company acted immediately upon becoming aware of it.

"In-N-Out Burger would never condone the inhumane treatment of animals and all of our suppliers must agree to abide by our strict standards for the humane treatment of cattle," Taylor said to The Associated Press in a written statement.

In-N-Out's agreement with suppliers also prohibits companies from shipping beef from sick animals.

Central Valley Meat Co., owned by Brian and Lawrence Coelho, declined to comment on the video, saying company officials had not seen it. On Tuesday, the company hired a public relations firm that issued a statement saying Central Valley Meat Co. is cooperating with investigators.

"Central Valley Meat takes these issues very seriously and is now developing a plan of action to present to (the Food Safety Inspection Service) to remedy any potential violations of USDA guidelines," the statement said. "Based on our own investigation and 30 years of producing safe, high-quality US beef, we are confident these concerns pose no food safety issues."

The video taken by an undercover investigator for Compassion Over Killing shows cattle lying in pens unable to move, and at least one unable to stand to leave a stock transportation trailer.

Some clips show cattle with swollen udders that are unable to keep their legs under them. Other footage shows a downed cow trembling and unable to stand even as workers try to pull her up by the tail.

Within hours of seeing the video, the USDA's Office of Inspector General sent investigators who found evidence of "egregious inhumane handling and treatment of livestock." The possibility that animals were being inhumanely treated caused officials to shut down the plant while the investigation unfolds.